Method and apparatus for tensioning and winding resilient thread



Nov. 7, 1939. E; .1. Joss 2,179,094

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TENSIONING AND WINDING RE'SILIENT THREAD Filequarch 5, 1938 ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 7, 1939 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TENSION- ING AND WINDING'RESILIENT THREAD Ernest J. Joss, Cranston, R. I., assignor, by mesne assignments, to United States Rubber Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey- Application March 5, 1938, Serial No. 194,056

5 Claims.

for tensioning and winding resilient thread. and more particularly to methods and apparatus for tensioning and winding rubber thread being wound into golf balls.

The characteristics of balls having a winding of resilient thread; such as golf balls, are materially improved if the thread is severely tensioned during the winding operation. Such balls are wound at very high speeds; one type of a winding machine having a surface winding speed of approximately 1160 feet per minute. The thread is elongated as much as 1000 percent in some types of balls. In order to tension the rubber thread it has heretofore been the practice to feed or pass it through pinch rolls operating in pairs, each pair being operated at diierent speeds. It has been found that owing to the tendency of the thread to chafe or produce torn edges at the rolls there is liability of weakening the thread.

I have found that the chafing of the rubber thread may be materially reduced by providing a cushion of resilient material between the pinch rolls and thread. The thread instead of tending to elongate against a metallic surface elongates with a resilient surface so that the cushion absorbs the greater portion of the rubbing or chaflng action set up by the sudden change in the velocity of the thread at the rolls.

The resilient cushion is herein illustrated in the form of complementary resilient rubber belts each vpassing around pairs of spaced pulleys operated at different speeds. The pulleys also serve as pinch rolls for controlling the relative speeds of the belts and the thread at diierent places.

'Ihe accompanying drawing illustrates a present preferred embodiment`of the invention and a method of practicing it, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view in elevation of an apparatus embodying my invention; and

Fig. 2 is a transverse, sectional view, taken along the -section line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, there is provided a winding mechanism I, a tensioning mechanism -2, and a supply mechanism 3, all of which are operated in synchronism. A rubber thread 4 passes from the mechanism 3 to the tensioning mechanism 2 with some elongation. In the tensioning mechanism 2 the thread 4 is given a further tensioning or stretching treatment. From the mechanism 2 the thread passes to the winding mechanism I.

'I'he winding mechanism I is illustrated, somewhat diagrammatically, in the form of a pair of conically shaped rollers 5 and 6, carrying a re- -The roller 291s carried by an arm 30 mounted My invention relates to methods and apparatus silient belt 1 for supporting a ball 8 as it is wound.

A detector wheel 9 is mounted above the bali 8 on an arm I0 having a pivoted connection I I with a frame I2. A spring I3 attached to one end of the arm I0 tends to press the detector wheel 9 5 against the ball 8. As is well understood in the art, the detector Wheel 9 may control other a-pparatus for stopping the machine when the ball 8 has reached a given size. It is to be understood that other types of winding mechanism may be used with the present invention.'

' The supply mechanism comprises a holder I4 carried by a pivot I5 secured by a brace I6 to the frame I2. The holder I4 is provided with notches I'I for the reception of a hub II8 in a spool I9 carrying the rubber thread. Preferably, the thread on the spool I9 is stretched about 10 percent of its length. The spool is rotated by a peripheral drive roll 20 which directly'engages the thread on the spool so as to impart a uniform movement, regardless of the diameter of the thread on the spool. The roll 20 is actuatedby a gear 2| which, in turn, is driven by a chain 22 meshing with a gear 23 in the tensioning mechanism 2. 5 i

on a pivot 3| and is urged against the belt by a. spring 3| having an adjustable mounting 32.

The belt 26 is trained around pulleys 34 and 35 and an intermediate guide roller 36. The pulleys 2'I and 34 constitute pressure rolls for receiving thethread 4, while the pulley 28 and the roller 36 constitute a let-off for the thread. 'I'he position ofthe pulley 34 may be adjusted and tensioned by providing a pivotal mounting 31 for a carrying arm or yoke 38 and working against a resilient tensioning mechanism 39 through an arm 40. A tensioning roller 4I, having a resilient mounting 42 similar to the mounting for the roller 29, cooperates with the roller 36 for controlling the movement of the belt 26. From the pulley 35 the thread passes over a` guiding idler 44 to the winding mechanism I.

For driving the mechanism -in synchronism a gear train, as hereafter described, is provided. The roller 5 is provided with a gear 46 and is con- 55 nected to a driving mechanism, not shown, so that power is delivered through the roller 5. The gear 46 meshes with a' gear` 4-1 which, `in turn, meshes with a gear 48 coaxially mounted with the pulley 35. `A second gear 49 on the pulley 35 meshes with a gear 5I) on the pulley 28. A second gear 5I on the pulley 28 meshes with a gear 52. The gear 52 meshes with a gear 53 on the pulley 21 and a gear 54 on a shaft 55. A gear 56 on the shaft 55 meshes with a gear 51 which is mounted on an axis with the gear 23. Accordingly, the entire mechanism is synchronized with the winding roller 5. The belt 25 is driven by the pulley 28 and thebelt 26 is driven by the pulley For ease of explanation, and not as a limitation of the invention, certain, relative surface speeds are hereinafter given and discussed. With a ball winding speed approximately 1160 feet per` minute, the thread 4 may be wound with 10 percentstretch on the spool I9. In leaving the spool I9 and passing to the nip of the pulleys 21` and 34, as is shown in Fig. 2, the thread may elongate from 10 percent to 450 percent. Such an elongation will not produce undesired chai-ing as the thread leaves the spool I9. On entering the bite between the pulleys 21 and 34 the thread is actually engaged and confined between the rubber belts 25 and 26 so that it does not directly engage the metal of the pulleys. The speed of the pulleys -21 and 34 is controlled by the gear 53. The pulley 34 is so tensioned by the mechanism 39 that no slippage takes place. The surface speeds of the belts 25 and 26 are thus controlled and determine the entrance speed of the thread 4.

However, the pulleys 28 and 35 are geared to turn at a much higher peripheral speed than do the pulleys 21- and 34 so that the belts on leaving the bite of the entrance rolls elongate materially carrying with them the thread 4. If the belts upon leaving the pulleys 21 and 34 elongate from 50 percent to 200 percent, the thread4 will be elongated from about 450 percent to about 1000 percent of its original length. As the thread does not directly engage the faces of the pulleys, but is cushioned by the belts 25 and 26, the tendency for the thread to be chafed or torn is eliminated as there is relatively no slippage between the thread and the belt surfaces. Such slippage as does take place, occurs between the pulley surfaces and thebelt surfaces.

The thread 4 after passing between the pulley 28 and the roller 36 passes over the pulley 35 on the belt 26 and on to the mechanism I Without change in'length.

The belt 25 after passing around the pulley 28 and under the roller 29 is relieved of tension because the pulley 21 rotates at a lower speed than the pulley 28. Accordingly, the belt is relatively slack when it again engages the thread 4. Likewise, the belt 26 becomes relatively slack after it passes between the rollers 36 and 4I on the return trip.

While I have shown and described the present invention in connection with a winding mechanism operating at a constant speed it is to be understood that the tensioning mechanism may be applied to other types of winding mechanisms with appropriate changes in driving speeds. Also, a series of tensioning units may be successively applied to the thread if it is desired to tension it in a series of steps rather than by a single step, as herein illustrated and described.

Accordingly, Iprovide a method and apparatus for tensioning and elongating resilient thread, such as rubber thread, preparatory to its being lead to a winding machine. The invention is particularly useful in the Winding of golf balls.

As the more and higher elongation and tensioning of the thread takes place while the thread is being cushioned from contact with the roll or pulley surfaces, thereby avoiding direct slippage thereagainst, the tendency of the thread to chafe or tear is reduced. There may be chafing or relative slippage between the elastic belts and the pulley surfaces, but this does not affect the thread which 1s being wound in the bau s.'

i While I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of my invention and the method of practicing it, it may be understood that the invention may otherwise be embodied and practiced within the spirit thereof and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire` to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of tensioning a continuous length of elastic thread preparatory to supplying the thread to thread working means which comprises the steps of confining the thread under pressure between resilientfbelts and' elongating the belt-s and confined threadarrd feeding the thread tothe thread working means.

2. The combination with means for winding a ball from elastic thread, of means for supplying and tensioning the thread -comprising a pair of complementary belts of resilient material for conning the thread under .pressure and means for causing the belts to travel at a higher speed at the thread exit than at the thread entrance.

3. The combination with means for winding a ball from elastic thread, of means for supplying 'and tensioning the thread comprising a pair of complementary rubber belts for confining the belts to travel at a higher speed at the thread exit than at the thread entrance.

4. In a golf ball winding machine, means for forming a ball from resilient thread, rolls for tensioning the thread and feeding it to said forming means, driving means for the rolls and forming means, and resilient means for cushioning the thread from the rolls as it passes therethrough to reduce chafing of the thread.

5. In a golf ball winding machine, means for forming a ball from resilient thread, rolls for tensioning the thread and feeding it to said forming means, driving means foi-the `rolls and forming means, and resilient belts for cushioning the thread from the rolls vas it passes therethrough to reduce chang the thread.

ERNEST J. JOSS. 

